Day 4 - Richmond, Monticello and Arrival in Washington DC

Here is my creed:  I believe in one God, the Creator of the universe. That he governs it by his providence.  That he ought to be worshipped.  That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. 

That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.  These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion.  -  Benjamin Franklin 

We had a mixed day of travel, visiting the historical sites and eating great food.  Since it is Sunday, we started by loading the bus and traveling to Richmond, Virginia - the third capital of Virginia. We learned in Jamestown that the settlers were required to attend church on the Sabbath, because the penalty for not going to church was severe. 

Sir Thomas Dale, an English naval Commander and Deputy-Governor of the Virginia Colony in 1611 declared, "Those persons who failed to attend daily prayers were to be deprived of their rations for a first offense, whipped for the second, and sent to the galleys for the third.  Those who indulged in gaming on the Sabbath or failed to attend Sunday worship were to be even more severely dealt with penalty for a third offense being death."  Well, we've been having daily devotionals and prayer, so we are safe on that point, but we better head to church today because we are still in Virginia and it is Sunday!

We traveled to St. John's Episcopal Church, built in 1741 and it is still in use today.  It is being refurbished on the inside, so the congregation met in another building.  Since we were on the grounds of the church, does that count as "attending Sunday worship?"  I hope so because this is as close as we were going to get!

Did you know that in this church, on March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry delivered his passionate "Give me liberty, or give me dealth" speach?

Mr. Parvex leads Nicholas, Thomas and Anton in a reenactment of Patrick Henry's speech.  As the congregation listens intently, imagine this patriot poet thundering from the pulpit, "If we wish to be free – if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending – if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight!  I repeat it, sir, we must fight!  An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!" 

With fists pounding on the podium, he concludes with these fiery words, "The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. . . There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!  Our chains are forged!  Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!  The war is inevitable – and let it come!  I repeat it, sir, let it come!

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.  Gentlemen, may cry, Peace! Peace! – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!  The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field!  Why stand we here idle?  What is it that gentlemen wish?  What would they have?  Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?  Forbid it, Almighty God!  I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

There are a few other famous people buried at St. John's Church and Ms Calvert is showing us one of them.  We are now off to Thomas Jefferson's beloved home, Monticello.

This is the start of our tour to Monticello, but we were not permitted to take photos inside the home so we settled for outside pictures.

Thomas Jefferson loved his home and it took him 40 years to complete it.  He would start a project, then change and redesign it and start it over.  He always wanted the new, improved, and "cutting edge" features in his home.

There are three things that Thomas Jefferson is most proud of: 1) Declaration of Independence, 2) Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and 3) Father of the University of Virginia.

For lunch, we drove to Michie Tavern in Charlottesville, Virginia. Built in 1784, this establishment served as the social center of its community and accommodated travelers with food, drink and lodging.  They specialize in period dishes with in all-you-can-eat family style Southern Cooking.

Michie Tavern is famous for Colonial Fried Chicken, Beats, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Stewed Tomatoes, Corn Bread, Rolls, and Peach Cobbler.  It was terrific and we ate it all. 

They can sure feed an army!

Did I mention that we ate on metal plates and drank from metal cups, just like they did in the 1700’s. You would load up your plate and eat a little and they would keep bringing you more food!  After lunch we lumbered onto the bus for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Washington DC.  Most of us fell asleep.

After taking a short bus tour around the Capital to orientate ourselves, we stopped at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which sits on about 7 acres.  It is divided into four sections, one section for each stage of his presidency.  This statue was in the first section and after this picture was taken, the kids walked around the memorial and recorded their notes in the workbooks – writing some famous FDR quotes in the process. 

This is from the third section of the memorial.  You can see that FDR is in a wheelchair now.

The FDR Memorial sits on the shores of the Potomac River.  Across the river is the Washington Monument and down the river is the Jefferson Memorial, both can been seen from the shores of the Potomac.

Did you know John Smith in 1608 was the first to explore the mouth of the Potomac River?  The Algonquin Indians had named this river “Petomek,” meaning “trading place.”  The sun was setting in the western sky and highlighted the Jefferson Memorial across the river.  We thought it was good time for a photo.

Amanda wanted to show off her strength by holding up the Washington Monument.  Boys, beware, don’t mess with her!

Even Ms Calvert and Mrs. Brewer posed for a picture, but they’re too tall – they covered the Jefferson Memorial.  It was time board the bus again, our next destination is the top of the Kennedy Center to see the Washington DC lights at night.

In the hall of flags at the Kennedy Center, making our way to the roof.

Viewing Washington DC in the twilight of the evening.  This was our last stop, but we will come back tomorrow to see much more. Until then, good night.